Contents

Origin and History

On January 13 1701, Emperor Leopold I authorised Christian Ernst Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth to raise a new infantry regiment of 16 companies, of 150 men each, for a total of 2,400 men. Six companies were already in the margrave's service but the ten others had to be recruited.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, in 1701, the new regiment was sent to Alt-Breisach. In 1702, it served on the Rhine against the French. From June to September, it took part in the siege and capture of Landau. From August to September 1703, part of the regiment took part in the defence of Alt-Breisach. By mid-August, another battalion of the regiment marched from the Lines of Wissembourg to Freiburg to reinforce the garrison of the place. In the morning of September 7, the Fortress of Alt-Breisach capitulated, its garrison obtaining the honours of war. In 1704, the regiment was at Freiburg and took part in an attempt to recapture Alt-Breisach. In September 1706, it took part in the relief of Turin. In 1707, it participated in the unsuccessful expedition against Toulon.

In 1712, Margrave Georg Wilhelm became proprietor of the regiment.

In 1716, the regiment served in Hungary.

During the War of the Quadruple Alliance, on June 20 1719, the regiment took part in the battle of Francavilla in Sicily.

On December 18 1726, Prince Wilhelm Ernst von Brandenburg-Bayreuth became proprietor of the regiment.

At the end of the War of the Polish Succession, in 1738, the regiment served in Hungary once more.

By August 2 1758, the regiment served in the first line of the main Austrian army under the command of Daun near Jarmeritz (present-day Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou). Daun was following up the Prussian army retiring through Bohemia after the failure of the invasion of Moravia.

In early June 1760, the regiment was part of Beck's Corps posted on the Upper Queiss. On September 17, two battalions of the regiment took part in the Combat of Hochgiersdorf where they were attached to the Reserve Corps of the Fürst Löwenstein. On November 3, two battalions of the regiment took part in the Battle of Torgau where they were attached to Daumbach's Brigade.

To do: more details on the campaigns from 1760 to 1762

Uniform

For the moment we have very few information on the uniform in 1756, at the outbreak of the war. Most of our references describe the uniform in 1762. However, Muhsfeldt and Schirmer mention that, in 1756-57, the coat was white lined white (therefore white turnbacks), the distinctive colour was scarlet red and the waistcoat and breeches were white. Therefore, the uniform at the beginning of the war seems to have been almost identical to the uniform of 1762.

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Frédéric Aubert from a template made by Richard Couture.

Uniform in 1762as per the Albertina Handschriftcompleted with other sources where necessary

Headgear

Musketeer

black tricorne scalloped white; white strap with a yellow button; with a white within yellow within green pompom; a scarlet red and yellow tassel in each lateral corne

Grenadier

bearskin with a scarlet red bag probably laced white and a white tassel

Neckstock

one red and one black (for parades the regimental commanders agreed before on the colour of the neckstocks)

Coat

white lined white with 3 yellow buttons under the right lapel and 1 yellow button in the small of the back on each side

Collar

none

Shoulder Straps

scarlet red fastened by a yellow button (left shoulder only)

Lapels

scarlet red lapels with 7 yellow buttons (1-3-3)

Pockets

horizontal pockets, each with 3 yellow buttons

Cuffs

scarlet red, each with 3 yellow buttons

Turnbacks

white without any tab

Waistcoat

white with 2 rows of small yellow buttons (3-3-3) and with horizontal pockets, each with 3 yellow buttons

Breeches

white

Gaiters

one pair of black (for winter) and one pair of white gaiters (for summer and parade)

Leather Equipment

Crossbelt

white

Waistbelt

white with a brass buckle

Cartridge Box

black with a small brass plate carrying the initials “MT”

Bayonet Scabbard

black with brass fittings

Scabbard

black (grenadiers only)

Footgear

black shoes

Troopers were armed with a musket (Model 1745 for fusiliers, Model 1754 for grenadiers). Grenadiers carried a sabre while fusiliers carried only a bayonet.

Other interpretations

The Bautzener Handschrift illustrates the following differences:

black tricorne scalloped white; no strap but a yellow button; white within red pompom; no tassels

black tricorne scalloped white; with white straps with a yellow button; red within white within dark green pompom and tassels

NCOs

no information available yet

Officers

The officers wore the same uniform as the privates with the following exceptions:

tricorne lined gold with a white and green cockade

black neckstock

no turnbacks

no shoulder strap

yellow and black silk sash

Senior officers carried sticks identifying their rank:

lieutenant: bamboo stick without knob

captain: long rush stick with a bone knob

major: long rush stick with a silver knob and a small silver chain

lieutenant-colonel: long rush stick with a larger silver knob without chain

colonel: long rush stick with a golden knob

Musicians

Until 1760, the musicians wore coats of reversed colours with white swallow nests and white lapels, cuffs and turnbacks.

From 1760, they wore uniforms identical to those of the privates with the following differences:

scarlet red swallow nests on the shoulders

The drum had a brass barrel decorated with black flames at the bottom and with a black double headed Eagle on a yellow field. Rims were decorated with red and white diagonal stripes. The bandolier was white.

Colours

All German infantry regiments carried identical colours: a white Leibfahne (colonel) and yellow Regimentsfahne. The hand painted colours were made of silk and measured Size 178 cm x 127 cm. The 260 cm long flagpoles had golden finial and were decorated with black and yellow spirals of cloth.

obverse (right): the Immaculate Mother of God (which had been declared the patroness of the army by kaiser Ferdinand III) on a cloud, crushing a snake under her foot and surrounded by rays

reverse (left): crowned and armed Imperial double-eagle with the "Lothringen-Toscanian" arms on a shield and the initials of the Emperor CF (Corregens Franciscus) on the left wing and IM (Imperator Magnus) on the right

obverse (right): crowned and armed Imperial double-eagle with the "Lothringen-Toscanian" arms on a shield and the initials of the Emperor CF (Corregens Franciscus) on the left wing and IM (Imperator Magnus) on the right

reverse (left): unarmed and crowned Imperial double-eagle with the arms of Hungaria and Bohemia on a shield and the initials M on the left wing and T on the right

Regimentsfahne – Source: Frédéric Aubert

In fact, the situation on the field was slightly more complex than this, since colours were usually replaced only when worn out. It is fairly possible that some regiment who had been issued colours of the 1743 pattern were still carrying them at the beginning of the Seven Years' War. For more details, see Austrian Line Infantry Colours.

References

This article contains texts from the following sources, which are now in the public domain: